413 inmates released per Jan. 25 presidential pardon

CAIRO - 14 March 2019: According to official statements,413 inmates were released as per a presidential pardon issued on the eighth anniversary of January 25 Revolution, which directs releasing 6,925 prisoners and detained debtors.

Egyptians celebrated the eighth anniversary of the uprising that ended the 30-year rule of former President Hosni Mubarak. The uprising was staged on the Egyptian Police Day on January 25, 2011 to protest against the ministry’s crackdown on civilians during Mubarak’s era.

According to the constitution, the president has the right to issue pardons for convicted prisoners after consulting with the Cabinet.

In October 2016, President Sisi announced the formation of a presidential pardon committee, headed by political thinker, Osama al-Ghazaly Harb, for pardoning detainees with charges pending further investigation.

In November of the same year, Sisi declared the first presidential pardon list, pardoning 82 detainees, including TV presenter and religious thinker Islam al-Behery, who was charged with “contempt of Islam.” A second pardon list was declared in March 2017, pardoning 203 detainees. The list included five journalists, according to Masrawy news outlet.